AB 613

This bill requires that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) authorize

the hunting of sandhill cranes. Under the bill, a small game license, or other license

that authorizes the hunting of small game, is required to hunt sandhill cranes, and

the hunter must have successfully completed a sandhill crane hunter education

course. The course is required to cover such topics as hunting techniques and how

to distinguish sandhill cranes from other birds. Both residents and nonresidents are

authorized to hunt sandhill cranes.

Under the bill, DNR may limit the number of cranes harvested and the number

of hunters by issuing permits if DNR determines that the limitation is required for

proper game management. Under the bill, if DNR decides to issue permits, DNR

must determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill crane hunting

area and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of applications for

the permits for a given hunting area or season do not exceed the number of available

permits allocated by DNR, DNR issues a permit to each applicant who pays the

applicable fees. If the number of applications for the permits for a given hunting area

or season exceeds the number of available permits allocated by DNR, DNR may

either issue the permits at random or establish a cumulative preference system. If

a cumulative preference system is used, the system establishes preference categories

for those applicants who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority

given to those applicants with more preference points. Under the preference system,

an applicant may elect to apply for a preference point instead of a permit. Under the

bill, a person must pay a processing fee when applying for a permit or preference

point, but there is no fee for the permit itself. The revenue from the processing fees

is appropriated for improving and managing the state's sandhill crane population

and for administering the sandhill crane hunter education program.

Current law authorizes a person who owns, leases, or controls land on which

certain wild animals cause damage to crops or livestock to apply under a

state-funded wildlife damage program for wildlife damage abatement assistance

and for wildlife damage claim payments. Wildlife damage for which a person is

eligible to receive this assistance or payments under the program includes damage

caused by deer, geese, and turkey and by sandhill cranes if hunting of such cranes

is authorized by DNR. This bill removes this condition so that wildlife damage

caused by sandhill cranes is the type of damage for which a person is eligible to

receive assistance or payments. The revenue from the wildlife damage surcharge

fees is appropriated for use under this wildlife damage program and other fish and

game management activities.